A giant selfie frame, fancy dress, treats, and expanded prizes are coming to Sheffield Cathedral this month as the city’s dog competition returns.
Following the success of last year’s #StrikeAPaws campaign, which saw the official Sheffield Cathedral Dog Calendar sell out, Sheffield Cathedral, 1554 Coffee Shop, and Supertram are partnering again to find 12 dogs to star in the 2027 edition.
The competition will run online from 14th to 22nd June. Dog owners are invited to share photos of their pets using the hashtag #StrikeAPaws for the chance to win a place in the calendar and an upgraded prize package.
Alongside the social media contest, a giant pop-up selfie frame experience will appear outside Sheffield Cathedral from 18th to 20th June. The activation gives visitors the opportunity to snap photos with their dogs using props, fancy dress, and themed accessories, with treats available for both pets and owners. Organisers hope the event will celebrate Sheffield’s pet-friendly community while encouraging footfall into the city centre.
This year’s winners will receive:
- A professional photoshoot inside Sheffield Cathedral
- A starring place in the 2027 Sheffield Cathedral Dog Calendar
- Digital copies of their photographs
- A doggy goody bag
- Cathedral concert tickets
- A week-long Supertram travel pass
The Cathedral and 1554 Coffee Shop are dog-friendly spaces, and with dogs now permitted on all Supertram services, organisers note that accessing the city centre venue has become much easier for pet owners.
Ruth Maher-Heslip, Manager of 1554 Coffee Shop, said: “We absolutely love it when customers bring their pooches along to visit us. We always make sure our doggy diners are well looked after, and we even stock dog treats in the 1554 shop too. Last year’s calendar was such a success that we completely sold out and had to order more. Seeing all 12 amazing dogs featured around the Cathedral was brilliant, and this year the calendar is going to have a totally new look – we’re so excited for people to see it.”
The Very Revd Abi Thompson, Dean of Sheffield, said: “Sheffield Cathedral is a place for all people – and dogs too. We love welcoming dogs to all aspects of Cathedral life, from services and events to visits to 1554 Coffee Shop. #StrikeAPaws has become such a joyful way to celebrate our community, and we’re delighted to be bringing it back with even more opportunities for people and their pets to get involved this year.”
The #StrikeAPaws competition opens on 14th June, with the Selfie Frame event taking place outside Sheffield Cathedral from 18th to 20th June.
Jasmine Thompson, Senior Marketing Manager at Supertram, added: “We’re delighted to support #StrikeAPaws once again and continue our partnership with Sheffield Cathedral. With dogs now welcome on all Supertram services, it’s never been easier for owners and their four-legged friends to get involved. Sheffield is a city of dog lovers, and we can’t wait to see the fantastic photos shared this year.”
For more information, entry details, and terms and conditions, visit the events section at sheffieldcathedral.org.
